Layton’s plea for hope and optimism was a political and personal manifesto

Hours after Canada awoke to news that New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton died Monday of cancer at age 61, his extraordinary political voice echoed once again via a personal letter the “indefatigable” politician wrote to Canadians.

Over his political career, Layton evolved from campus activist to rabble-rousing left-wing municipal councillor to the most electorally successful leader of the federal New Democrats in history, leading the party to a record 103 seats in the May election.

OTTAWA—Hours after Canada awoke to news that New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton died Monday of cancer at age 61, his extraordinary political voice echoed once again via a personal letter the “indefatigable” politician wrote to Canadians.

The plea for “hope and optimism” was a political and personal manifesto by a man whose contribution was swiftly acknowledged by admirers and rivals alike.

Over his political career, Layton evolved from campus activist to rabble-rousing left-wing municipal councillor to the most electorally successful leader of the federal New Democrats in history, leading the party to a record 103 seats in the May election.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged the sheer determination of his “colleague and friend.”

“We have all lost an engaging personality and a man of strong principles,” he said.

Harper recalled that Layton was a natural musician. “And we always talked about getting together to jam. But it seemed we were both always too busy. I will always regret the jam session that never was. That is a reminder, I think, that we must always make time for friends, family and loved ones while we still can.”

Layton’s death at 4:45 a.m. was announced by his wife, MP Olivia Chow, and his children Michael and Sarah Layton.

Although Layton was clearly in poor health the past several weeks, news of his death shook a nation.

Flags on Parliament Hill and federal buildings in Toronto were lowered to half-mast. Hundreds of people streamed by his constituency office in Toronto, by City Hall and by the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill, leaving written messages, flowers and Orange Crush cans — a reference to the NDP’s Quebec surge in this year’s election.

“Jack, you led with sheer decency, and passed with outstanding dignity,” read a message written in orange marker in Ottawa.

Liberal Leader Bob Rae, former NDP premier of Ontario, described Layton as “indefatigable” — the “Energizer bunny” of Canadian politics.

Following prostate cancer treatment, Layton developed a hip fracture and underwent surgery just before last spring’s election, walking with the aid of a cane throughout the campaign. On July 25, a gaunt and hoarse Layton announced he was stepping aside temporarily as leader after he was diagnosed with a second form of cancer that was not specified.

In lieu of flowers, his family asked for donations to the Broadbent Institute, a new think-tank, “to continue the work of making Canada a better place.”

Condolence books will be available in Toronto and Ottawa, while a state funeral is being planned for Saturday, the prime minister’s office announced. Toronto Councillor Pam McConnell said city officials are working on plans for a funeral at Roy Thomson Hall, with the overflow crowd to be accommodated in the adjacent David Pecaut Park.

The only other party leader to die in office was Sir Wilfrid Laurier on Feb. 17, 1919. The former prime minister was then the Official Opposition leader.

Layton crafted a brand for himself and his party as an “ordinary guy,” yet political blood ran in his veins. His great-great-uncle, William Henry Steeves, was a bona fide father of Confederation from New Brunswick.

His grandfather, Gilbert Layton, was a cabinet minister in the Union Nationale government of Quebec premier Maurice Duplessis.

His father, Robert Layton, was chairman of the Conservative caucus under Brian Mulroney from 1984 to 1993 and served briefly as minister of energy, mines and resources.

“His father was the incarnation of an honest man, a man of integrity,” Mulroney said Monday. “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”

Layton looked to his father, who died in 2002, as a role model in his personal life, too. His father had beaten prostate cancer.

“Like my dad, I am a fighter. And I will beat this,” Layton said when he first revealed his cancer in 2010.

Layton led his high school student council in the mostly English-speaking town of Hudson, Que., and was prime minister of the Quebec Youth Parliament. But Layton — who won a national swimming title at 15 — denied he was overtly political.

He attended McGill University, and at 19, married his high school sweetheart, Sally Halford, with whom he had two children, Sarah and Michael.

They moved to Toronto in 1972. Layton taught urban politics and earned his Ph.D. before he pursued his political passions into office.

He was first elected to Toronto city council in 1982, separated from Halford in 1985, and became involved with Olivia Chow, then a school board trustee. Theirs was, he said, “a political partnership.”

Layton lost a mayoral bid and two tries for a federal seat, but he became president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in 2001. He said that’s when he realized he could get things done on a national scale and decided to run for the leadership of the federal NDP.

He succeeded Alexa McDonough as leader in 2003. He boosted the party’s organization, fundraising and communications and grew the NDP from 13 seats when he took it over to 19 seats after the 2004 election, and eventually to 103 in 2011.

With files from Star staff

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